A mural made in July 2008 by youth who participated in Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries' Interfaith Youth Initiative (IFYI) in Boston. The mural reads

1000 Voices for Youth Peace

Target:

Governor Patrick, Mayor Menino, Beacon Hill Legislative Leaders, Boston City Counselors, Distinguished Elected Officials, and Civic Leaders

Sponsored by:

Alex Kern, Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries

As persons who care desperately about the lives and well-being of ALL OUR YOUTH, act quickly to stop the epidemic of youth and domestic violence and to provide meaningful, real opportunities for all our young people to succeed in these challenging economic times. Help us make 2009 a year of peace!

Now more than ever, with gun violence and domestic violence on the rise, ask Massachusetts State and City Officials to preserve and increase funding for city and state-wide violence prevention programs such as the Shannon Grants, Department of Public Health Youth Violence Prevention/ Positive Youth Development program, domestic violence prevention programs, and other programs to save our youth and families.

Only by working together as people of faith, conscience, and compassion %u2013 across the sectors of government, law enforcement, religion, education, public health, and others- can we stem the tidal wave of violence flooding our communities. Only together can we create lifelines for our youth, pathways to healthy, productive lives. Ask Massachusetts Officials to commit to innovative, collaborative efforts to break the interlinked chains of violence impacting youth: gang activity, gun violence, substance abuse, bullying, domestic violence, and suicide. Call on legislative officials in this time of fiscal crisis to support programs of education, civic engagement, employment, and other alternatives to the codes of violence, fear, and chaos.

As persons who care desperately about the lives and well-being of ALL OUR YOUTH -representing a vast range of communities and neighborhoods - we implore you to act quickly to stop the epidemic of youth and domestic violence and to provide meaningful, real opportunities for all our young people to succeed in these challenging economic times. Help us make 2009 a year of peace!

Now more than ever, with gun violence and domestic violence on the rise- we ask you to preserve and increase funding for city and state-wide violence prevention programs such as the Shannon Grants, Department of Public Health Youth Violence Prevention/ Positive Youth Development program, domestic violence prevention programs, and other programs to save our youth and families.

Only by working together as people of faith, conscience, and compassion %u2013 across the sectors of government, law enforcement, religion, education, public health, and others- can we stem the tidal wave of violence flooding our communities. Only together can we create lifelines for our youth, pathways to healthy, productive lives. We ask you to commit to innovative, collaborative efforts to break the interlinked chains of violence impacting youth: gang activity, gun violence, substance abuse, bullying, domestic violence, and suicide. We call on you now, even in this time of fiscal crisis, ESPECIALLY in this time of crisis, to support programs of education, civic engagement, employment, and other alternatives to the codes of violence, fear, and chaos. We ask you to invest in our communities and empower young people and their mentors to make our neighborhoods safer, healthier, and more sustainable. The time to act is now!

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We signed the "1000 Voices for Youth Peace" petition!

# 96:

1:20 pm PST, Nov 4, Adrienne Eaton, Massachusetts
I have worked with survivors of domestic violence, both adults and children, and know what an affect it can have. No one deserves to live in fear. Please make this a priority!

# 95:

8:44 am PDT, Sep 17, Gloria Evans, Massachusetts
I have lost young family members to the violence on the city of bostons streets,this issue is something that we should all be outraged by no matter what part of massachusetts we live in,it should not be about one part of massachusetts i hope every one signs because they do care about kids having a better place to live,we can do it if we just do the right thing. thats why i choose to sign!

# 94:

10:26 am PDT, Aug 11, Name not displayed, Massachusetts

# 93:

7:39 pm PDT, May 21, Name not displayed, Massachusetts

# 92:

10:29 am PDT, May 16, Skip Schiel, Massachusetts

# 91:

8:39 am PDT, Apr 27, Frances Bean, Massachusetts

# 90:

7:14 am PDT, Apr 27, Name not displayed, Massachusetts
I live in the City of Boston. As we are cutting vital programs that serve our children, the rate of violent crimes have continued to increase in our communities.

# 89:

7:26 pm PDT, Apr 26, Name not displayed, Massachusetts
Shame on Massachusetts!

# 88:

6:00 pm PDT, Apr 26, Dennis Feigen, Massachusetts

# 87:

5:12 pm PDT, Apr 24, Mary` Fusoni, Massachusetts
Cutting funding for violence prevention programs would be one of the most short-sighted things that state government could do, with serious societal and personal consequences both now and far into the future.

# 86:

2:51 pm PDT, Apr 24, Liz Whitlinger, Massachusetts
I work with Teenagers on a daily basis and know the effects of violence in the teens' lives. It severely impacts their daily functions and it is so sad to see kids suffering through trauma and loss because of violence.

# 85:

2:50 pm PDT, Apr 23, Fanny Howard, Massachusetts

# 84:

5:19 pm PDT, Apr 20, Diamond Lowe, California

# 83:

5:03 pm PDT, Apr 20, Pearl Lowe, California

# 82:

11:09 am PDT, Apr 8, Name not displayed, Massachusetts

# 81:

10:44 am PDT, Apr 6, Youth Internet Safety Advocate, Canada

# 80:

6:49 am PDT, Apr 6, Constant Wanham, Massachusetts

# 79:

7:53 pm PDT, Mar 28, David Landskov, Massachusetts
We know this is needed now.

# 78:

1:45 pm PDT, Mar 16, Ben Healey, Massachusetts

# 77:

1:29 pm PST, Mar 2, Polly F. Attwood, Ed.D., Massachusetts

# 76:

3:38 am PST, Feb 26, Cecilia Villero, Massachusetts

# 75:

7:59 pm PST, Feb 25, Jeffrey Stone, Massachusetts

# 74:

2:55 pm PST, Feb 18, LaToya Staine Carriker, Massachusetts
We need change for the many who have experienced the pain of losing a child or a friend. We need change for the many who live in fear. We need change to proove to ourselves that we can be the change we wish to see.

# 73:

9:43 am PST, Feb 9, Jill Lofchie, Massachusetts
I strongly believe that we all need to have a role in preventing youth violence and making the streets and schools safe for everyone. I think state legislative officials can have a huge impact by creating systems to directly target youth violence. I hope this can become a high priority. Thank you for your consideration.

# 72:

3:51 pm PST, Feb 8, Paul Valentine, Massachusetts
We need to teach, preach, and reach for peace.

# 71:

6:28 pm PST, Feb 6, Elaine Gaetani, Massachusetts
Invest in children. Our young people need a chance.......to live in a healthy environment that is safe. With budget cuts, and the unbelievable prospect of cutting even More Teachers jobs in our city schools......we are Not making our children our number one priority. We will pay the price as a society.

# 70:

4:16 pm PST, Feb 6, Name not displayed, Massachusetts
This is very important issue to me and for my son's future. I would like to see more education around domestic abuse and what it is in the schools to help our young men and women.

# 69:

8:53 am PST, Feb 6, Carl McDonald, Massachusetts

# 68:

6:03 am PST, Feb 6, Jennifer Valentine, Massachusetts
All us of deserve to (and can) live in a world that is free from violence. If we start with our youth and educate them to navigate life peacefully, they will grow up to create a more voilence-free world. We owe it to ourselves, them, and the future.

# 67:

7:03 pm PST, Feb 5, Judith Goldberger, Massachusetts
My friend mourns the loss of her grandson. She has befriended the mother mourning the young man jailed for his murder. Youth are our future, and yet the lives of too many in my neigbhorhood - and across the state - are being cut short by violence!

# 66:

8:30 am PST, Feb 4, Bonny Carroll, Massachusetts
I AM HORRIFIED BY THE LOSS OF POTENTIAL AMOUNG OUR YOUTH AND WANT IT TO STOP!!!!

# 65:

7:19 am PST, Feb 4, Lisa King, Georgia

# 64:

6:55 am PST, Feb 4, Jennifer Gardner, Florida

# 63:

5:46 am PST, Feb 4, Kathleen Boyer, New Hampshire
As a former resident of Massachusetts, my children were directly affected by youth violence. Some years ago, one son was held up at gunpoint delivering pizza. Another son was rob of his walkman at gunpoint by a gang. They are now fathers of my two granddaughters. I want a better world in which my granddaughters and all children can grow and thrive in peace. A world based on learned skills of non-violent communication and respect. I am, therefore, working as a Co-State Coordinator in New Hampshire to create a cabinet level US Department of Peace. I urge Massachusetts State Officials to get behind this movement and express their support of this important legislation H.R. 808 in the US Congress!

# 62:

9:53 am PST, Feb 3, Krystle Kelly, Massachusetts

# 61:

9:23 am PST, Feb 3, Name not displayed, Massachusetts
Our Youth is our Tomorrow! But they are here today.

# 60:

1:09 pm PST, Feb 2, Name not displayed, Massachusetts
I work with inner city youth and can attest to the violence that is robbing children of their innocence and futures as well.

# 59:

8:15 am PST, Feb 2, Mary Burke, Massachusetts
Young people are our future. our commuity and our country will thrive only if young people have hope and see that their dreams are achievable because both they and the community work to make them real

# 58:

2:39 pm PST, Feb 1, Anisha Chablani, Massachusetts
We do not need to lose any more young people to violence and poverty in this country!

# 57:

12:08 am PST, Jan 31, Ari R. Kolman, Canada
There should be no government sector for religion, for they are interlinked chains of violence impacting youth: gang activity, gun violence, substance abuse, bullying & Hate Crimes, domestic violence, and suicide.. In this time of fiscal crisis there should be support for programs of education, civic engagement, employment, and other alternatives to the codes of violence, fear, chaos and religious fundamentalist Hate towards Gays & Lesbians..

# 56:

1:53 pm PST, Jan 30, Name not displayed, Massachusetts

# 55:

5:32 am PST, Jan 30, Mark J. Allman, Massachusetts

# 54:

8:20 pm PST, Jan 29, Mary Casiello, Massachusetts

# 53:

8:20 pm PST, Jan 29, Mary Casiello, Massachusetts

# 52:

3:01 pm PST, Jan 29, Maria Kelleher, Massachusetts

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